Lily’d already studied the bird guide, so she hoped she’d be able to identify some of the hawks, eagles, falcons, and other winged predators, but in her experience, birds in flight all tended to look the same. But then, Chase was always able to tell them apart, and when their group had climbed the steel stairs to the massive platform at the top, Chase called everyone to the railing.

“Watch the rock face off to your left,” she directed. “There’s a big osprey nest at eleven o’clock, below that clump of spruce.”

“Over there?” someone called.

“No, those are pines,” another voice answered.

A few teens groaned.

Someone said, “Now we have to be botanists?”

More laughter while several kids pointed out the direction to look.

Lily smiled. She’d miss this—their energy, their insecurities and bravado, their curiosity and their optimism. She watched Chase move from group to group, answering questions, guiding their observations, explaining the life cycles of the great winged hunters.

She’d miss so many things, but none as much as Chase. She turned away, her throat tight. Blinking away the sudden moisture in her eyes, she scanned the cliff tops and, beyond those, the massive mountain ranges. Strange to see fog so late in the day with the sun so high. She blinked again, but the gray haze remained.

“Chase,” she murmured, and Chase instantly appeared at her side.

“Lily?”

“Why is it so foggy—” Lily sensed Chase stiffen and glanced at her, instinctive alarm prompting an adrenaline rush that heightened every sense.

Chase’s jaw tightened. “That’s not fog. It’s smoke.”

Chapter Nineteen

“Is it close?” Lily asked calmly, although her eyes took on that dark, deep hue that usually indicated she was worried.

“Over here,” Chase said, motioning for Lily to follow her to the far side of the platform away from the cluster of campers and counselors. Lily was no stranger to a crisis, and from the rate at which the smoke cover was spreading, a crisis was a distinct possibility. “From where I put the fire, there’s no danger to populated areas right now, but I can’t say yet what we’re facing. Let me call it in—chances are good I’m going to have to go.”

Lily’s mouth set and she nodded. “I understand. Is there anything I should do here?”

“If I have to leave, Alisha will be in charge until you’re all back at the lodge. No reason for the regular schedule to be interrupted.” Chase pulled her radio off her belt. No reason to mention the fire was closer to the lodge than where they were right then. “This is Fielder, I’m at the raptor tower in Little Neck. Smoke sighted about seventy-five miles north-northwest, vicinity of Eagle Peak.”

“This is Evans,” Natalie came back. “Roger that, dispatching aerial surveillance. Will advise.”